The initial operating segment of the Willamette Bridge Railway Company’s lines in East Portland. When it opened in March 1888, the line ran up Fifth street [now Grand Avenue] from U street [now SE Clay Street]. By May 1888, the southern terminus was noted as being at V street [now SE Market Street], and by late July 1888 had been further extended south to the north end of the new bridge over Stephens Slough at Adams street [now SE Grant Street]. Modern-day Division Street also passes through this intersection, but in 1888 that street continued east-west along the line of what is now SE Division Place, substantially further south.
It is unclear at present if initial service on the line crossed the river on the Morrison Bridge to Portland, or continued up Fifth to C street [now NE Everett], which was as far as track was laid before the Fifth street bridge over Sullivan’s Gulch – described by The Oregonian as being “made of tooth-picks” – was declared unsafe. If it was the latter, then service to Portland would have been supplied by the Morrison Bridge shuttle line right from the start.
Regardless of the routing, fare was a flat five cents, even though the company’s franchise allowed for an extra three cents to be charged to cross the bridge over the Willamette.
Around July 1888 – after the bridge over Sullivan’s Gulch was rebuilt – the line was extended further north along Fifth to Holladay avenue, and the Morrison Bridge shuttle was definitely in service from this point on. In August 1888, the line extended west down Holladay to about Occident street [now NE Wheeler Avenue], just shy of the newly-built first Steel Bridge.
When the Sunnyside steam motor line opened in July 1888, the intersection of East Fifth and N streets became a very busy interchange point, with the three lines all meeting there. Some attempt at timed transfers between the lines was made, though open draws on the Morrison Bridge made this difficult at times.
Service was provided by horsecars, though these were gradually phased out as electric cars began to be brought into service. From September 1890 onwards, horsecars only operated between Holladay and N streets as the Woodstock and Richmond electric lines provided service along Fifth street south of N street and over the bridge into Portland. This service may have continued until the electric East Ankeny line was inaugurated in 1892 by the City & Suburban Railway Company.
See also: Morrison Bridge (1888–1890)
| Important Dates: | March 29, 1888 – Initial segment opens from Fifth and U streets, heading north on Fifth and perhaps crossing the Morrison Bridge to Portland. July 1888 – Line is extended south on Fifth to Adams street to end at the northern end of the bridge over Stephens Slough. July 1888 – Line extends north along Fifth to Holladay avenue. August 1888 – Line extends west along Holladay avenue to Occident street [now NE Wheeler Avenue]. September 1890 – Service cut back to operate only north of N street; service south of here taken over by the electric Waverly-Woodstock lines. | | --- | --- | | Operating Company: | ‣ | | Gauge: | Narrow (3-feet, 6-inches) | | Headboard: | “Portland & East Portland” | | Car Barn: | ‣ |